Tinubu, Other African Leaders Grace Senegal President’s Swearing-in Today

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja today (Tuesday) for Dakar, Senegal, to attend the inauguration of Senegal’s President-elect, Bassirou Faye.

This was disclosed by the Presidency in a statement titled “President Tinubu to attend the inauguration of Senegal’s President-elect Bassirou Faye,” which was signed by Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu’s Special Advisor on Media and Publicity.

Additionally, in a post on X via @aonanuga1956, President’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga stated, “The 44-year-old President’s inauguration will take place at the Diamniadio Exhibition Centre.”

Along with other regional leaders, President Tinubu, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will be present for the inauguration.At the invitation of the Senegalese government, Tinubu is making his first visit to the nation since taking office. Ngelale stated, “He will attend the inauguration at the Diamniadio Exhibition Centre on Tuesday along with other regional leaders.

“Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other high-ranking government officials will travel with the President.

Following the inauguration, he is anticipated to return to Nigeria.The fifth nation in Africa that Tinubu has traveled to since taking office ten months ago is Senegal. He has traveled abroad 17 times.

Tinubu said that the successful elections in Senegal and Liberia had strengthened the ECOWAS campaign for democracy in the West African sub-region, even as he congratulated Faye on his victory last week.”President-elect Faye comes with great promise and a sterling record, wishing him success as he takes on this important job of leading the good people of Senegal,” stated Tinubu, the chairman of ECOWAS.

On Sunday, March 24, 2024, Faye won an extraordinary victory in the presidential election, making her the next president of Senegal.

Out of the approximately 17 million Senegalese, the electoral commission of the nation reported that over seven million were registered to vote. Voter turnout was over 61%, according to the civil society observer group COSCE.

Candidates needed to receive more than 50% of the vote in order to win. Preliminary results showed that Faye, the opposition candidate, was polling at roughly 53.7%, despite the Senegalese News Agency (APS) stating that the results would be announced by the constitutional council on April 3.

Additionally, according to results from 90% of polling places, Amadou Ba, the candidate of the ruling coalition and a former prime minister, received 36.2% of the vote in the first round of voting, according to the electoral commission.

Ba, who was supported by President Sall at the time, accepted defeat in light of the preliminary findings.”I salute the approach of the other candidates who, without exception, have honored a very Senegalese tradition without even waiting for the official results to be announced by the authorised state bodies,” said Faye afterward in support of the move.

Ousmane Sonko, the opposition leader’s protege, has pledged that Faye will lead with humility, combat corruption, and shield Senegal from outside meddling and corruption.